24.8.07

More than meets the eye.

Hectic days these are. NDP celebrations went well, with an unexpected turnup of 80 people. Which got us into quite a frenzy because we only catered for 50. Somehow people are more patriotic these days - patriotic for food ;p

Then there was the long awaited Phantom of the Opera. It was sooooo BRILLIANT, everyone's raving about watching it again. The understudy of Christine sang on the night I went to watch the musical, but her singing was breathtaking nonetheless. I knew the whole plot by heart, yet the musical surprised me at every turn, taking me on a whole new and exhillarating journey. Advanced stage theatrics, elaborate props, intricately sequined costumes, the whole lot. Remember the scene where the chandelier dropped from the ceiling? The chandelier of the theatre really came down on the audience and swung forth to crash on the stage! More than unexpected.

Then came the SAM AGM. Was amusing, to say the least. I've finally stepped down, though it doesn't feel quite right because there's no one to succeed me as of yet. It also doesn't feel quite right because I'm going to miss the ex-exco!! Vek, you better call a meeting meetup soon so I won't suffer from withdrawal symptoms! To the new committee, CONGRATs! :) Feel free to approach if you need help, I won't bite :)

22.8.07

Good soulful music strong on vocals and acoustics. Rather like Norah Jones, don't you think?

I've been awake for a while nowYou make me feel like a child now'Cause every time I see your bubbly faceI get the tinglies in a silly place

It starts in my toesMakes me crinkle my noseWherever it goesI always knowThat you make me smilePlease stay for a while nowJust take your timeWherever you go

The rain is falling on my window paneBut we are hiding in a safer placeUnder covers staying safe and warmYou give me feelings that I adore

It starts in my toesMake me crinkle my noseWherever it goesI always knowThat you make me smilePlease stay for a while nowJust take your timeWherever you go

What am I going to sayWhen you make me feel this wayI just mmmmm

And it starts in my toesMakes me crinkle my noseWherever it goesI always knowThat you make me smilePlease stay for a while nowJust take your timeWherever you go

I've been asleep for a while nowYou tuck me in just like a child now'Cause every time you hold me in your armsI'm comfortable enough to feel your warmthAnd it stats in my soulAnd I lose all controlWhen you kiss my noseThe feeling shows'Cause you make me smile babyJust take your time nowHoldin' me tight

Wherever wherever wherever you goWherever wherever wherever you go

Wherever you goI always know'Cause you make me smileEven just for a while

9.8.07

Will be catching the 1st Parade by the Bay via streaming online. Can't wait. I remember how my brother and I used to rush out to the window for the fireworks when we were really little (when the celebrations were at Kallang). Or how our dad piggyback-ed us so we could see better. Or how I was dancing for the pre-parade celebrations and had to attend all those exhausting practices three times a week for months on end. Or how I was ushering in the 2005 NDP and watched fireworks every single week, never getting sick of them. Learnt the dance moves for Reach Out for the Skies by the end of it all and danced like mad during the post-party with all the SMU peeps. Not to mention I witnessed the kiasu-ness of Singaporeans firsthand too (now that was pretty amusing, and the company I had were bitching about it big time).

SAM will be celebrating the NDP a week late just so we'd have the entire parade on VCD. Check the party out at http://sam.monashclubs.org!

And then on to modern day deontologists like Frances Kamm. His Principle of Permissible Harm is quite interesting - it is an effort to distinguishing between killing and letting die. The Principle states that one may harm in order to save more if and only if the harm is an effect or an aspect of the greater good itself. For instance, Kamm argues that we believe it would be impermissible to kill one person to harvest his organs in order to save the lives of 5 others. Yet we think it is morally permissible to divert a runaway trolley that would kill 5 innocent and immobile people onto a side track where 1 innocent and immobile person will be killed. In the end, it is supposed to address what Kamm feels are most people's considered case judgments, many of which involve deontological intuitions. http://ndpr.nd.edu/review.cfm?id=9763

After reading from the link you'd realise that the lines are still very blur. Killing versus letting die? Sounds like the euthanaesia dilemma to me all over again. So.. let's move away from that.

Was meant to blog about my tuesday at CPP. Had quite a fun (and importantly, short!!) day at CPP just today visiting Playgroups and Childcare Centres. Spent some time interacting with the kids and their mums, gaining some inside information on how these groups operate and what the parents get out of it (yes, it's not all about the kid!). The kids were so cute and positioned in the midst of their wonderfully primary coloured toys (great background) or out having fun in the sun in the sandboxes or on the swings, and kept staring indiscriminately (such that it was real easy to capture) at me with such wide eyed innocence that I gravely regretted not bringing my camera!!! Damn. Don't think I'd get another chance at visiting playgroups.

Ps. :) Cheer up, girl! Everything will work out in the end. Your sincerity and how much you value the frienship will definitely move your friend back into an even deeper friendship with you! There's nothing a strong deep friendship can't withstand, isn't that right? :)

PPs. To the girl who's leaving for Perth, take care of yourself k? Don't fret. I KNOW you'd make great friends anywhere you go, because you naturally ARE that great friend to others first. Don't know what God put into your genes, but it's definitely something anyone would kill to have (lol, that doesn't sound very friendly ;p). Haha. Jokes aside, you've come a long way. And I know it's not genes, God has used all those trying circumstances to mould you into something SO beautiful (the most beautiful part of which is the fact that you are oblivious to the big impact your small gestures make). You have been waiting around for answers, now it's time to head out to fulfil your dreams! Go girl! And God bless :)

6.8.07

Randomized control trial.

I'm doing a randomized control trial on myself :) This is the 1st of the lot. I will leave my blog open the whole day (Author's note: It ended up being a few whole days, not just a certain day.) at it's 'Create Post' section, and see what random stuff I would churned out. Yes I shall.

Read up about the Game Theory (especially the non-zero sum games exemplified by the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma) again in the midst of printing this week's notes out (yes one week too late, but nonetheless). First knew about it after A Beautiful Mind, but just concluded that I'm going to deem it a screwed theory. I mean, which other theory would infer that we should be altruistic for our own selfish ends?!

New hit by Avril. I love the scene where the old man mouths the words 'I miss you'. Damn touching.

I just noticed my friend's nick. 'The closer you get to light, the greater your shadows become.' How true. I still remember a sermon from the past where the pastor preached about being aware of increased spiritual attacks when we try to draw near to God or do His will, because they do happen and we should not let fear overtake or discourage us.

Mummy's going to be so proud of me. I've got a new vege dish up my sleeves and am going to invite the lot over for dinner (trs is going to be on seventh heaven) to try it out. The base of pumpkin and tomatoes is delish, 1st tried it at potluck (Author's note: Already had them over for dinner, where I learnt from trs that salt enhances natural taste. I protest! Add salt = not natural taste anymore!). Other than that, it's really a no-brainer to prepare.

Kel says I always give him the saikang jobs. But he can't blame me because he's always standing there observing while I work. So I get immunity, end of story. Yay to me ;pp

Had a really nice chat with my brother last night. Like reallyreally nice. The brother stopped studying to chat to me (excuses, but nonetheless). And I found out that he keeps all his movie ticket stubs. Awww, so sentimental. I also found out that we keep discovering nice new songs at the same time its all tooo coincidental!! Last time we used to like the same songs - but that was because we'd have had similar exposure and all. Now, my goodness. The song isn't even a chart topper yet. And yet it caught his eye while he was watching MTV, so much so he recorded it into his handphone. While here I was in Australia straining my ears to hear the lyrics in the noisy MUISS lounge, and then proceeding to hunt it down on Google.

We also somehow talked about quantum physics and potential balances, heh. Never can we stop ourselves from discussing work - bad habit. It was quite funny when he suddenly exclaimed, 'Eh why are we talking about this?! Change topic!' But afterall, we did talk about almost everything. Including superb shows like Prestige and Minority Report, our alltime favourites. I must catch National Geographic's Hollywood Science. Sounds cool. Grr, I'm suffering from withdrawal. I'm missing all my National Geographic and Discovery Channel programmes!!

Talked about the 7 Wonders of the World too. Apparently the list has been revisited and revised. And hence I checked it up.

Caught the movie today after its release here in Australia on the 26th of July. Urge everyone I know to go watch it! It's so inspiring and lifting. Definitely exceeded my expectations for a film based on a true story, ensuing to stick to the pages of history and deliver the poignant message. I'm sure many of you will agree that nowadays it is indeed rare to find a historic movie long on accuracy and short on titillation.

Catch the movie trailer right here.

Now halt right here for those who haven't caught the show. The rest can proceed :)

After you've been touched and aroused by the truths delivered in succinct sentences throughout the movie, you may want to continue reading. The 1st link is extremely good.

Just as Esther had been put in the palace of King Xerxes "for such a time as this," Newton wrote, "one may not be able to calculate all of the advantages that may result from your service in public life. The example, and even the presence of a consistent character, may have a powerful, though unobserved, effect upon others. You are in a place where many know Him not, and can show them the genuine fruits of the religion you are known to profess."

Some exchanges I will never forget (apart from those already in the trailer).

Richard the Butler: You found God, sir?William Wilberforce: I think He found me.

Richard the Butler: It is indeed sad to be known to all but unknown to yourself.

Pitt the Younger: Why is it you only feel the thorns when you stop running?William Wilberforce: Is that some sort of heavy metaphorical advice?

William Wilberforce: No one of our age has ever taken power.Pitt the Younger: Which is why we're too young to realize certain things are impossible. Which is why we will do them anyway.

Barbara Wilberforce: You still have passion! That matters more!

And yet after all that, the show is still holds virtue to being a work of quality art. Dancing between powerful public speeches to luscious private moments: the Prime Minister and his best-friend MP racing barefoot through the garden; the beautiful red-headed Barbara Spooner (played by Romola Garai) snorting into her dinner because of a private joke about botany; John Newton (Albert Finney) wearing sackcloth as he mops the stone floor of his very chilly- and Medieval-looking chapel. Suffering is not held at bay; the stench and sweat and death of slavery ripple painfully underneath at all times.

Ahh, I think there'd be no end to my recount. Shall just get the DVD when it's out! :)

1.8.07

Obedience.

Our lord never insists on having authority over us. He never says, "You will submit to me." No, he leaves us perfectly free to choose. But once His life has been created in me through His redemption, I instantly recognize His right to absolute authority over me. It is a complete and effective domination, in which I acknowledge that He is worthy (Rev 4:11). It is simply the unworthiness within me that refuses to bow down or to submit to one who is worthy. When I meet someone who is more holy than myself, and I don't recognize his worthiness nor obey his instructions for me, it is a sign of my own unworthiness being revealed. God teaches us by using these people who are a little better than we are; not better intellectually, but more holy.

God never insists on obedience, but when we truly see Him we will instantly obey Him. Obedience is only possible between people who are equals in their relationship to each other; like the relationship between father and son, not that between master and servant. Jesus showed this relationship by saying, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30) "...though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Heb 5:8). The Son was obedient as our Redeemer, because He was the Son, not in order to become God's Son.